Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Risk Factors (TRANSFACT1)

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Detrimental effects of consumption of industrial trans fatty acids (TFA) from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are well documented. However, very little information is available on the effect of natural sources of TFA coming from milk fat, dairy products and ruminant meat. In fact, due to the naturally low level of TFA in milk fat, it is almost impossible to conduct a clinical trial with a limited number of subjects.

Methodology:

To compare the effects of industrial and natural dietary sources of TFA, two specific test fats have been designed and produced. A substantial amount of milk fat (130 kg) enriched in TFA has been produced by modification of the cow's diet and selection of cows with the highest TFA content. The level obtained was approximately 4- to 7-fold higher than typically present in milk fat ( - 20 instead of 3-6 g/100 g of total fatty acids). The control fat is composed of PHVO balanced in saturated fatty acids (lauric, myristic and palmitic). Both experimental fats contain about 20-22% of monounsaturated TFA and the volunteers' daily experimental fat intake (54 g), will represent about 12.0 g/day of TFA or 5.4% of the daily energy (based on 2000 kcal/day). These two test fats have been incorporated into food items and will be provided to 46 healthy subjects under a randomised, double blind, controlled, cross-over design. The primary outcome is high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which is an independent risk factor for CVD. Other parameters such as lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and HDL-C level and subclasses will be also to be evaluated.

This is a double blind, controlled, randomised, cross-over, single center clinical trial.

Product(s) to be tested:

Food items (butter, cheese and biscuits) manufactured using (i) an experimental milk fat and (ii) a mixture of vegetable oils (including partially hydrogenated oils), used as control. Both fats are balanced for their trans fatty acid content and saturated fatty acids content. The main difference of these two experimental fats (milk fat and control fat) is the distribution of trans fatty acids (TFA). The experimental milk fat, entitled "vaccenic acid enriched milk fat" (VAMF), has been obtained by feeding cows with a diet containing sunflower oil. The distribution (the quality) of monounsaturated C18:1 TFA in the VAMF is therefore close to the usual milk fat, but with higher levels (enriched milk).The experimental control fat, shorted CTRL, has been obtained by mixing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO) and vegetable oils and fats.

Amount, dosage, route of administration, duration of treatment:

During the 1-week run-in period, subjects should eat daily the same products as the experimental ones (butter, cheese and biscuits) but manufactured using usual milk collected in France. The subjects should then eat daily for 3 weeks butter, cheese and biscuits containing one of the 2 experimental fats (milk fat or control fat, cross-over with 1-week wash-out period) so that they eat daily about 54 g of the experimental fat, which contain about 20-22% of TFA. The total study duration for each subject is 8 weeks: 1-week run-in period, 3-week experimental fat diet in cross-over with 1-week wash-out period between both experimental periods.

All the measurements and blood samplings will be done on the first day of week 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8.

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Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 50 Years (Adult)

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

HDL cholesterol, g/L > 0.4

Triacylglycerol g/L <1.50

LDL Cholesterol g/L <1.60

Affiliated to National Health Insurance

Waist size < 102 cm (men) or 88 cm (women)

Normal blood pressure (diastolic <90 mm Hg, systolic <140 mm Hg)

Normal liver functions (γ-GT, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase)

Normal white blood cells count (4-10 g/L)

For women: effective contraception

Subject giving his/her written informed consent

Subject willing to comply with the study procedures

Subject considered as normal after clinical examination and medical questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

Reported food allergies

Currently participating or having participated in another clinical trial during the last 4 weeks prior to the beginning of this study

Hepatic or renal impairments

Positive serologies to HIV or HCV, determined on blood sample

For women, pregnant or presently attempting to get pregnant (-HCG blood test) or menopause or lactating